NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
31 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Romans 3:4 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
God forbid : yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
32 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”
31 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say,and you will win your case in court.”
35 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same: Your words stand fast and true; Rejection doesn't faze you.
35 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man [be found] a liar, as it is written, 'THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.'
35 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
31 words
KJV
32 words
ESV
31 words
NLT
35 words
MSG
35 words
NASB
35 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Romans 3:4?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Romans 3:4 in 6 translations: New International Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New American Standard Bible. Each uses a different translation philosophy — from word-for-word (KJV, ESV, NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT) to paraphrase (MSG).
Which translation of Romans 3:4 is best?
No single translation is "best" — it depends on your purpose. For deep study, use the ESV or NASB (word-for-word). For devotional reading, the NIV balances accuracy and readability. The NLT and MSG are excellent for understanding the general meaning in modern English. Comparing multiple translations helps grasp the full richness of the text.
What is the difference between literal and dynamic Bible translations?
Literal (formal equivalence) translations like KJV, ESV, and NASB translate word-for-word from the original Hebrew/Greek. Dynamic equivalence translations like NIV and NLT translate thought-for-thought for clarity. The MSG is a paraphrase that captures the spirit in contemporary language. Each approach has strengths — that's why comparing translations is valuable.